Daily Readings - Mon May 25 2020
Acts
1And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples.2And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."3And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism."4And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus."5On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.6And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.7There were about twelve men in all.8And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.
John
29His disciples said, "Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech!30Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God."31Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe?32Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.33I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
Sermon
The first reading from Acts and the Gospel of John both invite us to reflect on the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In Acts, Paul encounters disciples in Ephesus who had been baptized with John’s baptism but had not yet received the Holy Spirit. Paul explains that John’s baptism was a call to repentance, preparing the way for faith in Jesus. After baptizing them in the name of Jesus, Paul lays hands on them, and they receive the Holy Spirit, manifesting His presence through tongues and prophecy. This passage reminds us that the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of God’s promise and the source of our spiritual vitality.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples about the challenges they will face after His departure. He assures them that even though they will be scattered and face difficulties, they should not lose heart because He has overcome the world. Jesus emphasizes that the Father is always with Him, and through faith, His disciples can find peace in the midst of turmoil. This passage invites us to trust in God’s presence and providence, even when the world seems uncertain.
Together, these readings remind us that the Holy Spirit is our strength and our peace. In Acts, the Spirit empowers believers to live boldly as witnesses of Christ. In John’s Gospel, the Spirit is the source of the peace that Jesus leaves with His disciples. In our daily lives, we can apply this by trusting in the Holy Spirit’s guidance and seeking His comfort when we face challenges. Let us ask for the courage to live as Spirit-filled disciples, confident that God is always with us, even in the midst of difficulties.